Frequently Asked Questions

Click any question to expand the answer.

Is it safe to buy online?

Absolutely. We use a secure protocol (https) throughout this site (look for the padlock in the address bar). When you buy anything from this site, the payment process is handled by Stripe or PayPal on their own secure servers.

I can't decide which size to order. What do I do?

The easiest thing to do is compare the dimensions of shoes you already wear with the styles you like the look of. Every product page gives measurements for length, width and toe circumference of the shoes. For women, bear in mind that heel height affects insole length, so if you're going up or down in height the length will get shorter or longer accordingly. Some styles fit certain foot shapes better than others and we've noted this on the individual product pages. Hop over to the measurements page for full instructions on determining your size, or get in touch and we'll make recommendations on which models might fit you.

I'm buying my first pair of tango shoes. Any advice?

Welcome! You are going to love discovering how addictive these shoes are!

Our range by Very Fine are perfect for absolute beginners as they offer great value for money and are light and easy to wear. If you've been dancing a couple of months our styles from Mr Tango Shoes are amazingly stable and great for long classes. The hard leather soles enable easy pivoting and smooth movement and are comfortable on all sorts of floor surfaces.

For women, you may have been told that you need a high heel to be a good tango dancer. We believe this is misleading as it pressures people to wear shoes they don't feel comfortable in, and glosses over the need to learn all the many other things you'll need to be a confident dancer. It is better to find out which height works best for you (it depends on your height, build and axis) - you want a heel that allows you to forget about your feet and concentrate on the dance. Our models in 7cm and 8cm are the most popular but we also have clients who only wear 6cm and those who don't go below 9cm. For a beginner looking for a medium height and padded footbed our Mr Tango Shoes models in 7cm are perfect.

For men, Very Fine are excellent first shoes as they are lightweight and flexible. As you progress, you'll enjoy the smooth sole and handmade quality of Mr Tango Shoes.

Please do get in touch if you are worried about what to choose. We'll be glad to help!

My order is a gift for someone, can you wrap it for me?

Of course! Add the Gift Wrapping item to your cart to have your items beautifully wrapped in our signature shade of blue.

If you're sending a gift to an address other than your own, please enter their details in the shipping address at checkout and type your gift message in the Note to Seller field. If your order contains multiple items and you only want one wrapped or sent to a different address, please tell us in the Note to Seller field or contact us as soon as you've placed your order.

Can I buy a gift voucher?

Yes! We offer e-gift vouchers in any amount. They can be emailed directly to your recipient with your message, or emailed to you. Our vouchers may be used on anything in the shop and custom orders. They do not expire.

Do you do discounts or sales?

We occasionally offer time limited incentives and we also do reductions during our annual sale which usually starts at the end of December. The best way to hear about our incentives and the annual sale is to sign up for our newsletter or follow us on social media.

If you're ordering two pairs of in stock Turquoise and/or Mr Tango Shoes enter the code MULTI10 at checkout to get £10 off the total. If you are custom ordering 3 or more pairs in one order we may be able to arrange a price incentive just for you - please contact us to discuss.

We also offer incentives for dance teachers and their students. If you have been given a discount code by your teacher simply enter it at checkout. If you've lost the code, get in touch and we will see what we can do.

Will my shoes need breaking in?

Our shoes are ready to wear but it will probably take a couple of outings for them to start feeling really good. The upper and lining need to warm up to your feet and give a little where you need it. You can speed this up by wearing them at home for half an hour or so each day for a few days. Some patent leather and fabric uppers can feel rigid and will need a little longer to feel right, but this is totally normal. Slippery soles will scuff to the perfect smoothness within a couple of outings. If you're wearing Turquoise with their standard sole (not ultra soft), be sure to peel off the plastic cover from the sole before you dance in them.

How long will they last?

The lifespan of your shoes depends on how often you wear them, your foot shape, your dancing style, what surfaces you dance on and how you take care of them. The material you choose can also impact their longevity: all the materials we stock are durable but patent leather will hold its shape the longest, followed by silk and satin, embossed and plain leather, and lastly suede and velvet. Whatever you choose, treat them well and they will last for years. See the Aftercare page for tips and advice.

You have the shoe I want but not in my size. Help!

Amy's is a boutique, meaning we carefully choose styles that offer different features but don't stock them in every single size. This limited edition approach is common among tango shoe houses and ensures our customers have a unique look on the dancefloor. Shoes by Mr Tango Shoes and Very Fine can usually be ordered in your size as a custom order. If the shoe you want is by Turquoise it might be available to order in your size, however their designs are produced in limited size runs so it can be impossible to get exactly what you want.

Can I make a custom order?

Yes! Mr Tango Shoes and Very Fine can be customized. Please visit these pages for more information:

Turquoise make limited runs of each design and renew their collection regularly. They do not take custom orders. Sometimes styles come back in a new colour. This approach, common among famous tango shoe houses, ensures you have a unique look on the dancefloor, but can mean it's impossible to get exactly what you want. Please visit these pages for more info on ordering Turquoise:

Turquoise and Turquoise Leon shoes come with a beautiful drawstring satin bag with separate compartments for each shoe. The bags are in various colours and we pick a colour to suit the shoe - if you'd love a particular colour with your Turquoise shoe purchase please let us know. Mr Tango Shoes come with a woven bag in black and red, plain black or purple. Very Fine come with a drawstring woven bag in black for all styles except Competitive Dancer and Flat Heel Editions which are white. Black Box Edition Salsero and SN016 sneakers come with a nylon and mesh bag.